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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Hannah reading at the beginning of the scene?

2. What does Hannah's letter prove?

3. Why does Thomasina hate Cleopatra?

4. Where does Septimus place his letter after he has read it?

5. What does Thomasina believe she can plot with mathematical formulas?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Thomasina suggest Septimus is churlish with her?

2. What effect does Hannah's discovery about Chater have on Bernard's article?

3. Why is Gus considered a genius?

4. Describe Valentine's view of Bernard's article.

5. How does Lady Croom's interpretation of "Et in Arcadia ego!" differ from Septimus'?

6. What changes does Noakes propose for the garden?

7. Describe Chloe's relationship with Bernard.

8. Describe Lady Croom's character.

9. Why does Augustus return to Septimus at the end of Thomasina's lesson?

10. What comfort does Lady Croom take in her brother's marriage to Mrs. Chater?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the motif of fate or determination in the play. Write an essay in which you use examples of seemingly fated or determined events in the play to explain the author's message.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the two turtles mentioned in the play. Reviewing any mention of the turtles, write an essay in which you determine the symbolic meaning of the animals, and the reason for their constant presence onstage.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Hannah and Bernard's attitudes towards academic research as they develop throughout the play. You may consider the extent of knowledge, interaction with historical documents, value of historical research, etc. that Hannah and Bernard represent in Stoppard's concept of academia.

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